Toulouse have been aiming for the Super League for 20 years. Win their next four games and they reach the promised landBy Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required

Whether or not Toulouse Olympique stun Toronto Wolfpack and earn promotion to Super League in October, there is a strong argument that Sylvain Houles is the Championship’s coach of the year. Victory at Featherstone on Saturday will secure second place for Toulouse and a home play-off; defeat will likely send them on the first of several long-distance trips. Either way, Houles has improved Toulouse every year since turning from player to coach in 2012. That takes some doing at any level.Last Saturday, in 35-degree heat at Blagnac, a civilised little town by Toulouse airport, TOXIII secured two points with what Dewsbury coach Lee Greenwood called a “pretty much perfect” first half hour from “a red-hot team in red-hot weather”. The depleted visitors retained pride in a 42-14 defeat in searing heat, but Toulouse go into the play-offs in tremendous shape.“It’s exciting,” said James Bell, the Scotland lock who scored Toulouse’s opening try. “Everyone’s fresh and feeling good. I’m taking every game as a Grand Final. Four more wins and we are in Super League. We’re the underdogs going into the finals series. We’ve got nothing to lose. We’re playing stress-free footy, enjoying ourselves.” Related: Toulouse aim for Super League under sheep-farming coach Sylvain Houles